Samosas recipe
Prep Time
20min
Cook Time
40min
Total Time
1hr

Samosas are some of the finest of Indian pastries. Filling, flavorful, and full of surprises, there's never been a samosa I didn't like. There are more recipes for samosas than humans on this earth, but I've found this recipe to be the easiest way to prepare these treats. Enjoy them...

Ingredients

6 Servings
(1 serving = 4 samosas )

For Dough

  • 2cup
    all-purpose flour
  • 3/4tsp
    kosher salt
  • 1/3cup
    vegetable oil
  • 1/2cup
    water, as needed

For Filling

  • 2
    medium-sized potatoes
  • 1/4in
    peeled and cut into pieces
  • kosher salt
  • vegetable oil
  • 1tsp
    cumin seeds
  • 1
    onion
  • chopped
  • 2tsp
    minced ginger
  • 1/2can
    green chili (either a jalapeño or serrano pepper) minced ( be seeded or unseeded depending on the spice level you’re looking for)
  • 1tsp
    ground coriander
  • 1/2tsp
    Garam Masala
  • 1/4tsp
    cayenne pepper (more to taste)
  • 1cup
    frozen peas
  • 2tbsp
    chopped cilantro
  • juice of half a lemon
  • vegetable oil for deep frying

How to make Samosas

For Dough

  1. Mix the flour, salt, and vegetable oil together. The dough will be crumbly.

    Step 1.1: Mix the flour, salt, and vegetable oil together
  2. Slowly add the water until a solid dough begins to form. You may not need all the water.

  3. Knead the dough for about 5 minutes, just until the dough feels slightly elastic.

    Step 1.1: Knead the dough for about 5 minutes, just until the dough feels slightly elastic
  4. Place in a bowl and cover with a cloth or or plastic wrap while you work on the filling.

For Filling

  1. Boil the potatoes in salted water until they're fork-tender (about 10 - 15 minutes). Drain and set aside for later.

    Step 2.1: Boil the potatoes in salted water until they're fork-tender (about 10 - 15 minutes)
  2. Meanwhile, have your onion, ginger, chili, and spices ready. Heat a tbsp of vegetable oil in a medium-sized pan over medium heat. Add the cumin seeds and cook until they're just browned and start to become fragrant (2 - 3 minutes).

    Step 2.1: Meanwhile, have your onion, ginger, chili, and spices ready
    Step 2.2: Meanwhile, have your onion, ginger, chili, and spices ready
  3. Add the onions, ginger, and chili and cook until the onion has softened, about 3 - 5 minutes. Add in the coriander, Garam Masala, and cayenne pepper. Stir until everything is mixed and let cook for another minute.

    Step 2.1: Add the onions, ginger, and chili and cook until the onion has softened, about 3 - 5 minutes
  4. Add the peas and cook until they've turned light green. (By this point, you may need to add a splash of water here and there if the mixture is sticking to the pan).

  5. Add the potatoes and stir into the mixture. Then add the cilantro and lemon juice. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Take off heat and let cool to room temperature before proceeding with the next steps.

    Step 2.1: Add the potatoes and stir into the mixture

For Assembling

  1. Take your dough and divide it into 12 equally-sized balls. (They don't need to be perfectly round).

    Step 3.1: Take your dough and divide it into 12 equally-sized balls
  2. Take one ball and roll the dough into a 6-inch circular shape. It's okay if the shape isn't perfectly circular. Cut the dough in half.

    Step 3.1: Take one ball and roll the dough into a 6-inch circular shape
  3. On one half, add about a tablespoon's worth of filling. Have a small bowl of water handy. Dip a finger into the water and outline the outer edges of the pastry. (This will help the pastry to stick together as you're folding it). Take one edge of the dough and fold over the filling. Use your fingers to press the dough together along the edges so that it seals. Continue with the other half of the dough.

    Step 3.1: On one half, add about a tablespoon's worth of filling
    Step 3.2: On one half, add about a tablespoon's worth of filling
  4. Repeat this process with each ball of dough. You can adjust how much filling you put in, depending on how well the dough shapes over it. Continue until you've made all the samosas. **You can stop here if you intend to cook the samosas later. Simply put them on a platter, cover with plastic wrap or a tea towel, and place in the fridge until you're ready to use them.

    Step 3.1: Repeat this process with each ball of dough

Frying

  1. Once all of your samosas are assembled, heat up the oil in a pan or deep fryer. If using a pan, make sure the oil is at least an inch deep. Heat until the oil is 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

  2. Add up to three samosas at a time and deep-fry until golden brown. This should take no more than 3 to 5 minutes.

    Step 4.1: Add up to three samosas at a time and deep-fry until golden brown
  3. Using a slotted spoon, take out the samosas and place on a paper-towel-lined plate to drain.

    Step 4.1: Using a slotted spoon, take out the samosas and place on a paper-towel-lined plate to drain

Tips & Tricks

  1. While the traditional samosa shape is a cone, getting the pastry to adhere to this shape can be tricky and sometimes it’s more trouble than it’s worth. If that’s the case for you, there’s no shame in going with the ‘empanada’ or ‘pot sticker’ shape. Do what feels right.

  2. Feel free to add something to the filling or adjust the spices to your liking. If you like things spicy, I'd suggest adding more cayenne pepper, not more chili.

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Recipe by

Rachel Zorn Kindermann

(@rkindermann)

I'm a plant-based eater and food writer dedicated to making cooking and plant-based eating approachable and fun! I'm the creator of Samosas and Mimosas and...